Grade the Trade: Cavaliers find wing help and keep their core in proposal

Would the Cavs say yes?

The short answer is yes. Isaac Okoro plays with intensity, but his lack of three-point shooting and undersized stature hurts Cleveland too much right now. Royce O’Neale is near the same height as Okoro, so this package would not make sense without Dorian Finney-Smith or sending much less over to the Nets.

Okoro has potential undeniably, but the Cavaliers are not at a point to continue nurturing that through patience and losing. They only have so many years before Donovan Mitchell can leave for nothing in free agency, so they need to prove this summer that this organization is committed to putting the best possible contending roster around Mitchell. Losing Okoro, Wade, and Rubio hurts because of their cultural fit with the team, but this type of trade elevates the Cavaliers too much not to do it.

Losing Wade and Rubio is nothing to celebrate on its own, but their time might have come. Rubio has not been the same guard since his injury, and the majority of Cleveland’s guard minutes will be taken by Garland, Mitchell, and seemingly LeVert. Sending Rubio to be a mentor for another emerging star guard gives both parties a valuable return.

Secondly, this gives Cleveland their needed wing depth without losing any money in free agency. The Cavaliers are reportedly targeting six different centers in free agency, and a trade like this allows the Cavs to offer their full Mid-Level Exception to bring the best possible talent to the roster. The flexibility that Cleveland maintains while improving their roster makes this trade a no-brainer.

Overall, this trade is a good move for both teams. While the Nets might want to hold out for more valuable picks, the trade market this offseason probably will not value Finney-Smith enough with so many big names up for grabs. For Cleveland, this might be their best choice, as it fulfills their wing depth in one move rather than splitting up their free agency offers or completing multiple trades.

Grade: A